Developed by: Fred Burkey Florida Yard’s and Neighborhoods Martin and St. Lucie County

1. Introduction To FYN Developed by: Fred Burkey Florida Yard’s and Neighborhoods Martin and St. Lucie County

2. Florida Yards & Neighborhoods The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program is an educational outreach program informing homeowners how they can be more environmentally friendly with their landscape care practices and how this can help protect Florida's natural environment for future generations.

3. Objectives of FYN * Rreduce stormwater runoff * Decrease non-point source pollution * Conserve water * Enhance wildlife habitat * Create beautiful landscapes

4. What is a "Florida Yard"? A Florida Yard can take any form...unique or traditional. You can create a Florida Yard simply by changing the way you take care of your yard.

5. Principles of A Florida Yard * Right plant, right place * Water efficiently * Fertilize appropriately * Mulch * Attract wildlife * Manage yard pests responsibly * Recycle yard waste * Reduce stormwater runoff * Protect the waterfront

6. LANDSCAPING IS DIFFERENT HERE Developed by: Fred Burkey Florida Yard’s and Neighborhoods Martin and St. Lucie County

8. YANKEE VIEW

9. REALITY

10. H2O SUSTAINS LIFE ON EARTH * Under ideal conditions, an adult can live for over a month without food, but only 10 days without water. * Population is increasing, but water is not!

11. Domestic Water Use • American water use is high compared to other nations. • Twice European use • Florida has the highest domestic water use in U.S. • Partly due to irrigation of lawns and landscapes Fishing Pier, St. Lucie River USGS, 1998

12. Where does it come from? • 95% of Florida’s drinking water comes from groundwater • Groundwater resources are depleted when water is withdrawn faster than replenished • Over pumping • Drought reduces recharge

13. Mining Ground Water A river of water ? Salt water intrusionis also a concern

14. WATER WATER EVERYWHERE AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK 1% of all water on earth is available to drink. 97% of all water on earth is salt water.

16. THE GULF STREAM SWIFT, NARROW WESTERN BOUNDARY CURRENT * Width is about 31-47 miles * Depth of about 1-1.5 miles * Flows northeastward * Flow has a velocity of 2-6.5 miles per hour * Starts it’s journey in the Caribbean * Has a water temperature of 80 * Warm water gives Europe it’s mild weather

17. SEA SUFACE TEMPERATURE * warm waters (red areas) * orange circular warm eddies * yellow circular cold eddies CHLOROPHYLL CONCENTRATION * High (red-brown) * Intermediate (green) * Lowest (blue)

18. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

19. Florida Soils • High sand content • Low organic matter content • Rainfall • Humidity • Temperature • Micro-organisms Coarse-Textured Soils Low Water Holding Capacity Fine-Textured Soils High Water Holding Capacity

20. THE KEYS TO LANDSCAPING SUCCESS * Proper planning and plant selection: * Plan First, Plant Once * Site Analysis * Know your Plants * Selecting and Installing Plants * Current Use of Your Property * Proper turf selection * Proper landscape maintenance

21. PLAN FIRST, PLANT ONCE • * This is a process, not a one-time event! • * Utilize regional gardening books and magazines. • * Consult with your UF County Extension Office. • * Ask qualified nursery professionals for advice. • * Know the plants and what they require to thrive. • * Have a plan!

22. SITE ANALYSIS • What are the site characteristics? • * Soil • sand, silt, clay, organic matter content • pH • * Light • sun or shade • * Drainage • wet • dry • drainage patterns • * Structures and obstacles • power lines • sidewalks / driveways

23. KNOW YOUR PLANTS * What is the mature size of the plant? * Does it grow well in sun or shade? * Does it grow well in wet or dry soils? * Is it salt tolerant? * Is it susceptible to pests which may be difficultto control? Helianthus debilis ‘Beach Daisy’

24. PROPER TURF SELECTION MAJOR GRASS SPECIES IN SOUTH FLORIDA St. Augustine Bahia Bermuda

25. Irrigation

26. RAIN Rainfall averages 56 inches a year

27. IRRIGATION IS OFTEN NECESSARY IN FLORIDA * Half of the rain falls from June through September * Sandy soils do not hold much water * Less rainfall occurs during the winter and spring * temperatures can be over 90°F six months per year

28. CAN YOU OVER WATER ?

29. TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING ? Over watering occurs when water is applied too frequently or in excessive amounts. * Encourages growth of fungi and bacteria * Promotes a shallow root system * Reduces oxygen to the roots, causing stress * Encourages weed growth Pennywort is a good indication of an over watered lawn.

30. WHEN DO I WATER • * Early morning or evening • Temperature is cool and wind is calm • 40% - 60% of water applied evaporates in the afternoon sun! • * Some Water Management Districts mandate: No watering between 9 AM and 4 PM Year - round!

31. HOW MUCH ? * Apply ½ to ¾ inch water per application. * Soak soil thoroughly to promote a deeper, more drought tolerant root system Efficient watering wets only the root zone

32. PROPER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE * Prune properly * Plant nutrition * Fertilization * Pest management

33. WHAT IS PRUNING * Pruning is the Selective removal of vegetative growth, typically shoots and branches

34. WHY PRUNE? * Remove dead or diseased wood * Maintain or improve plant vigor * Control plant size and form * Train young plants * Influence flower or fruit production * Safety * Rejuvenate old shrubs

35. IS THIS PRUNED PROPERLY?

36. IS THIS PRUNED PROPERLY? How Do You Know! • A proper pruning • cut will allow the callus or wound wood to grow in a circular or • ring shaped fashion.

37. PALM PRUNING

41. PLANT NUTRITION pH • * The alkalinity or acidity of the soil • Measured on a scale of 0 to 14 • less than 7 is acid • 7 is neutral • more than 7 is alkaline • * Influences uptake of some nutrients • * Ideal range is between 5.5 and 6.5

43. pH OF FLORIDA SOILS • Often above pH 7, especially in southern Florida • Influenced by soil parent material • Influenced by ground water

44. VISUAL DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS • * Indicates a disturbance of plant metabolism • * Should not be ignored • * Take corrective and, later, preventative measures

45. FERTILIZE APPROPRIATLY

46. WHAT TYPE OF FERTILIZER? • * Read and understand the fertilizer label • * Look for the “guaranteed analysis” • list of the percentage of N,P, & K • a good fertilizer generally has 1.5 to 2 times as much N as K • * Look for terms like “slow release”, “resin coated”, plastic coated”, “water insoluble”, etc.

47. WHAT TYPE OF FERTILIZER? * Select a fertilizer containing at least 30% of the N in slow-release form * Slow release fertilizers cost initially but are more cost-effective in the long run * Slow release fertilizers are the most environmentally safe types

49. WHAT TYPE OF FERTILIZER? * Use care when selecting fertilizers containing weed killer or insecticide * The pesticide cannot distinguish between “good” and “bad” bugs or weeds and your broad-leaved landscaped plants 8-12 inches

50. PEST MANAGEMENT What is a Pest? A plant or animal that is out of place Diseases, Weeds,Arthropods, Reptiles, Mammals, etc.